web searches, making connections, playing games, sharing of photos and videos, myspace and facebook, instant messaging
cell phones
texting, internet
gaming
wireless competition with others, online communities through gaming consoles
Taking ownership of already-existing content on the web.
Ways to apply to teaching
Get to know the students' "messing around" activities (perhaps through a class delicious account) and use them to make connections within the class.
Put assignments online with a student-accessible message-board for questions.
Assign an open ended assignment like: "become an expert on any topic you are interested in, and write something about it". The students can use their "messing around" activities for a purpose in school. This can lead to a lesson about selectively choosing appropriate websites for school research.
Messing Around